The Netanyahu’s “Acquired” Palestinian House

The house is valued above 3 Million Euro. It was bought for pennies.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has been embroiled in numerous political controversies over the years. Among the lesser-known disputes is the question of ownership surrounding his residence at 4 Haportzim Street in Jerusalem. Situated in the historically significant Katamon neighborhood, the house’s story is similar to the story of the property of Dr. Tawfiq Canaan, a renowned Palestinian doctor and ethnographer.

Houses Caught in History

Dr. Tawfiq Canaan, a respected physician and folklorist, lived in an attractive home in Jerusalem before the upheavals of 1948. He held senior positions at institutions such as Bikur Holim Hospital and directed hospitals including Hansen (for leprosy patients), Shaare Zedek, and Augusta Victoria. Beyond his medical contributions, Dr. Canaan was a historian of Palestinian folklore and amassed an extensive collection of local amulets and ritual objects. He was also a vocal advocate for his people, critiquing both British and Zionist colonialism.

The Canaan family resided in an elegant home in the Musrara neighborhood, located on Godfrey de Bouillon Street (now Ha’ayin Het Street), directly opposite the Old City wall. In February 1948, amid escalating tensions, Musrara was shelled, and by May 5, their house suffered a direct hit. The family sought refuge in the Greek Orthodox monastery within the Old City, believing their displacement would be brief. From the monastery’s ramparts, Dr. Canaan and his wife witnessed the looting of their home, the destruction of manuscripts, and the theft of their unique ethnographic collection. They never returned to their residence. Dr. Canaan passed away on January 15, 1964, celebrated for his achievements but stripped of his personal assets.

His property, like many Palestinian homes, was categorized as “absentee property” under Israel’s Absentee Property Law, which allowed it to be seized by the state and later sold or leased to Jewish families​.

The Israeli government has not disclosed definitive records linking specific properties sold to immigrants with the Palestinian families who owned them prior to the war, making it challenging to establish legal certainty. What remains undisputed, however, is that the houses were sold without the consent of its owners.

The Controversy of Displacement

In 1949, a Jewish family immigrated to Israel from the United States, arriving without a place to call home. At the time, Jerusalem was awash with vacant properties—homes that had belonged to Palestinians who were expelled or fled during the events of 1948. These properties were overseen by a state trustee responsible for “absentee” assets. The family was allocated a spacious, empty house in a prime location at 4 Haportzim Street.

In late 1959, they formally purchased the property for 16,500 lira, as recorded in the property registry—a remarkably low price for a one-family home in the heart of the city, sitting on a lot of 581 square meters (6,254 square feet). For context, during the same period, a modest three-room apartment in Bat Yam sold for 32,000 lira, double the price of this two-story Jerusalem villa.

The parents lived out their lives in the home, and upon their passing, the house was inherited by their two sons. One of the brothers recently sold his 50-percent share of the property for 4.24 million shekels ($1.3 million). This makes the original purchase price ( $90.000 adjusted for inflation ) just about 3% of the value that the property was sold for. Ownership of the other half remains with the second brother — Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu’s home is emblematic of a broader, painful history of displacement experienced by Palestinians during the 1948 Nakba, when an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled from their homes. Dr. Canaan’s family, like many others, never regained ownership of their property, and instead, Jewish families were resettled into these homes. Over the years, legal ownership was passed on, allowing Netanyahu to claim the property as his own.

However, critics argue that the house remains a symbol of the unjust appropriation of Palestinian property. Activists have pointed to the Netanyahu residence as an example of how Palestinian properties were taken and redistributed, often through laws that favored Jewish residents​

Legal and Ethical Questions

While the house’s legal status is not in question—the Netanyahu family acquired it lawfully under Israeli law—the ethical implications are debated. The legal framework that allowed Jewish families to take over Palestinian properties has been condemned internationally. The displacement of the Canaan family, along with countless other Palestinians, is a central issue in the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict over land and property rights​

Today, as Netanyahu uses the home, the historical context continues to fuel debate. Many see it as a symbol of the ongoing struggle over land, identity, and displacement that defines the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some have even proposed symbolic exchanges of property, suggesting that Netanyahu’s home be returned to the Canaan family or used to house Palestinian families facing similar displacement issues​

Conclusion

Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence at 4 Haportzim Street may appear like an ordinary home, but it carries within its walls a history of displacement and loss. As Palestinians continue to fight against the eviction and seizure of their homes in places like Sheikh Jarrah, the story of the Canaan family’s lost property serves as a reminder of the complex and painful legacies of the 1948 war. For many, the Netanyahu house stands as a controversial symbol of the unresolved issues at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

1. The New Yorker, “The Price of Netanyahu’s Ambition,” January 2024. “The Netanyahu family resided at 4 Haportzim Street in Jerusalem, a home purchased by Benzion Netanyahu in 1952.”
2. Jerusalem Quarterly, History of Talbiya. “The house at 4 Haportzim Street is located in the Talbiya neighborhood of Jerusalem, an area historically associated with Arab and later Jewish residency after 1948.”
3. Israeli Land Authority, Legal Overview of the Absentee Property Law. “Properties classified as ‘absentee’ under the 1950 Absentee Property Law were often reallocated to new residents, contributing to the redistribution of homes in Jerusalem after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.”
4. Jerusalem History Archives. “The Talbiya neighborhood, where 4 Haportzim Street is located, is situated near key historic and cultural landmarks of Jerusalem, including the President’s Residence and major museums.”
5. The Jerusalem Post, “Benzion Netanyahu Dies at 102,” 2012. “The house at 4 Haportzim Street remained Benzion Netanyahu’s residence until his passing in 2012, serving as a key location for the Netanyahu family’s private life and public legacy.”
6. Globes. “Jerusalem House Opposite Netanyahu Family Home Sold for NIS 11.5M.” Accessed November 30, 2024.
7. Jews for Justice for Palestinians. “Three Families, Three Stories, and Sheikh Jarrah,” December 2021.